Local doctor and family show signs of COVID-19
Several new cases suspected after group returns from Caribbean
Several people in Windsor have symptoms of COVID-19 and are being tested after returning from a Caribbean cruise, Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare confirmed Thursday.
One of the people being tested is a physician at the hospital who specializes in psychiatry. The other individuals showing signs of COVID-19, the illness caused by a novel coronavirus strain originating in Wuhan, China, are members of the doctor’s family.
“In reality, COVID -19 is going to come to every community, likely, in Canada,” said Janice Kaffer, CEO Of Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare. “We’ve been expecting it. We’ve been working towards being ready for it and so the steps we’re taking are steps that we were going to implement at some point in time.”
Kaffer and Dr. Jeff Cohen, the hospital’s medical director for restorative care, held a media conference late Thursday afternoon to give details of the new developments. The hospital has informed eight patients who had interactions with the physician since Monday. Officials have also told 22 staff members who had direct contact with the doctor to self-isolate at home until results of the COVID-19 test come back.
“To maintain the health and safety of our organization, our staff and our patients, we have chosen to send anyone who has had direct contact with that physician home,” said Kaffer.
Shortly after the hospital announcement, Windsor’s medical officer of health held his own surprise media conference to say there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the region. So far, he said, 50 people have been tested with negative results.
“We do not have any cases, and we will notify the community directly if there is one,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed. “We want to assure that there is no case, and there is nothing that people should be worrying about.”
But he added that the health unit is monitoring another nine other people it has told to self-isolate based on their symptoms and initial risk of infection.
Health-unit staff members call them each day for an update on their symptoms.
Those nine individuals do not include the 22 people from Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare who are self-isolating.
Ahmed said the health unit has no information on those 22 people. He also would not comment on the physician’s case, citing patient confidentiality.
The chance remains that other individuals could be infected. The Star was contacted by one person who said she and a family member had some symptoms but were refused testing by health officials.
Kaffer said testing for the physician and his family happened Thursday afternoon, and it takes at least 24 hours to get results.
The family returned home on the weekend from a cruise in the Caribbean.
Kaffer said they were travelling in an area so far “non-impacted” by the virus, and did not meet criteria outlined by the World Health Organization, so there were no red flags when the doctor returned to work on Monday.
“Since Monday, the physician’s symptoms have worsened, and the physician has self-isolated at home,” said Kaffer.
The hospital is not identifying the doctor, but Kaffer said the person only worked at Hotel-dieu Grace Healthcare since returning from vacation. She would not say how many of the physician’s family members are being tested, citing privacy reasons.
Cohen said the physician still has recurrent fevers but is starting to feel better.
“I don’t think we expect this person to become critically ill or seriously ill,” he said.
The hospital is taking action to protect staff, patients and visitors, he said, “even without knowing for sure this individual actually even has coronavirus.”
As fears about potential Windsor cases of the virus escalated Thursday, there were social media reports and even video showing outrageously long lines of people snaking around local grocery stores stocking up on toilet paper, bottled water and other supplies.
Health officials urged people not to overreact.
“This is a time for calm,” said Kaffer. “This is not a time for panic. This is a time to pay attention to the professionals that have been advising a number of things. Wash your hands with soap and water. A lot. Cough and sneeze into your sleeve if necessary. Remain fairly distant from individuals if you can. We’re recommending to our own staff travel restrictions. We’re asking them not to travel and to report in if they are travelling.”
While also telling citizens not to panic, Cohen added “it’s very important to understand that we have to get ahead of this virus.” If officials wait to react until “the cat’s completely out of the bag, it’s going to be too late,” he said.
“We don’t know where this virus is going,” said Cohen. “We do not know how long it’s going to persist, how long it’s going to circulate, how many people it will affect and infect. It is quite potentially devastating.
“If it peters out, then we can just say ‘phew.’ But it’s only one of many viruses that come from bats that are ready and poised to enter the human population. So we need to be able to respond to these things calmly, effectively, and that is what the hospital has chosen to do here even though we haven’t confirmed anything. We need to protect people.”
Kaffer said her hospital had already been making plans to respond to COVID-19 unrelated to the possible cases this week.
Those measures likely would have been implemented in the next day few days or so, she said. They are now taking effect at 5:30 a.m. Friday.
Entry to the main campus will be limited to the Tayfour Building and Emara Centre main entrances. Once inside the hospital, said Kaffer, each person will be “actively screened.”
“This means that everyone will be asked of any respiratory signs, symptoms and travel history,” she said. “Visitor restrictions will be going into full effect.”
Visitor hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The policy of “open visiting” will also change.
Patients will now only be allowed one visitor at a time, except for those in the palliative care building who will be allowed two visitors. No one under the age of 18 will be allowed to visit patients.
“All visitor restrictions will be reviewed on an individual case for compassionate grounds,” said Kaffer.
Since Monday, the physician’s symptoms have worsened, and the physician has self-isolated at home.